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“I know, isn’t it something?”
“I might try something like that in my attic.”
“You should. It would be perfect for kiddos. You should see Mae Beaumont’s house, Maggie. Tell her, Gus. It’s, like, four stories high.”
“It’s a miracle that old place is still standing,” Gus said.
She took paper plates Gus had been kind enough to buy and placed them out with forks and napkins.
“I’m holding out for eclairs,” Maggie said. “And ice cream.”
They ate, and then Gus went outside to break down boxes while Katrina directed Maggie to put away china and glassware. In an hour, Gus had left with a truck full of broken-down boxes, and Maggie had most everything put away in Katrina’s kitchen. Then she started in on the linen closet, making up Katrina’s bed, and when she finished, she moved on to the bookshelves to unpack Katrina’s amazing collection of books.
Before they knew it, it was after three, and Maggie was beat. She hadn’t thought about Justin or Amber once. Katrina didn’t ask about the baby, either, sensing that Maggie needed time to process.
“You did an outstanding job for me today, my sweet friend,” Katrina said, hugging her.
“I’m ready to head back to Bayou Cottage. I can ask Gus to fetch me.”
“No, I’ll take you down. I have a few things left in my room above the café I have to get.”
“This already feels like your house to me,” Maggie said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I can tell there’s something going on, but I won’t ask.”
“Thank you. It’s one of those things that is never ending, I’m afraid. I just need to deal with it.”
Katrina dropped her off at the dock and waved as she drove back to the café.
“You had a long day, eh?” Gus asked.
“I did. It was good.” He helped her get Brulee in the boat and waved as she motored off to her own dock.
As the evil eye she’d painted for the end of her dock came into view, it renewed the happiness that was so fleeting. This was her dock, her cottage. Now she had to pretend everything was okay when Justin came home even though nothing was okay.
Amber Greely and Justin had had a one-night stand in the months before Maggie came to Cypress Cove. When Amber found out Justin was serious about Maggie, she spied on her and eventually broke into Bayou Cottage. Maggie forgave her, and they were even cordial when Amber dated Justin’s brother.
Tying up the boat to the dock was one of those tasks Maggie did without too much thought, but it took on new meaning that afternoon. A moment of self-actualization flooded over her. Not only was this her home, she was generous to her friends and family, and she had so much to look forward to.
As Maggie and Brulee walked down the dock, Brulee paused for a moment, looking to the left. Maggie followed her eyes and saw Raven standing there with the new band, grazing. They were bolder than the older band, who rarely came out into the front yard in daylight. They strolled across the grass to the cottage, and Maggie paused for a moment to see if Raven would approach her. The grass was too tasty in that spot, so the horses ignored the human and her dog.
Back inside, she made herself a cup of tea and took it out on the porch, finally allowing herself to look at her phone.
There was one text from Justin, but it said nothing about Amber being there. That sick feeling spread over her again. He probably wasn’t saying anything to avoid a fight, which made it worse.
She drank her tea, watching the horses graze. Then she sent Justin a text.Home now. See you later.
Reading it, the message sounded like she was really busy, probably getting online to work, instead of sitting, drinking tea, wasting time. The entire day had been wonderful except for that moment when Gus had said Amber was with Justin.
Why did that have so much power over her? It was infuriating. She was going to try right then to stop it. Mind over matter. Why did she care about Amber? She’d had wild sex with Justin the night before. He’d gone down on her until she cried out for him, and he didn’t waste any time getting inside. Chills of delight crawled over her when she thought of it, and she giggled.
Then she’d made him his favorite breakfast and sat on his lap, squirming around on him so that he’d begged her to let him get inside one more time before he left for work. She was glad she’d done it, straddling him with the remains of his breakfast growing cold and forgotten behind her.
There was nothing left for Amber after that. Smiling, she’d banished the jealousy. She loved him, and he loved her. She got out her phone. I can’t stop thinking about you, Justin.
In seconds, his reply.I can’t stop thinking of you either. I love you so much, Maggie. Thank you for everything, thank you for my life. I love you and I need you, more than you’ll know.
Tonight, she’d grill the steak she’d promised him. She was outside at the grill when his truck pulled up to the gate. They waved to each other as he passed by.
